Old Moray House

OLD MORAY HOUSE A B u i l d i n g ’s H i s t o r i c a l S i g n i f i c a n c e 175 0 - 185 0 OLD MORAY HOUSE Charles Cowan leases the property with his children Duncan, Alexander, and Margaret

New House, or south wing, was built ; private tenants on the top floor and Lord Kames on the first floor British Linen Company leases Moray House as a counting house, banking establishement, and linen warehouse

British Linen Company moves to another location but Linen Hall remains until 1801

1755 1752

1746

1755

British Linen Company formed

1751

1839

James Craig wins competition to design New Town

1846

Alexander Cowan gives up the family lease; property is sold to North British Railway for 2500 pounds

1791

1845

1802

1856

William Sibbald and Robert Reid finish their plans 1791 for the Second New Town Total population: 82,706 Old Town: 22,512 New Town: 7,206

1848/9

1867

The Scott Monument is completed

1821

A new hall is added to the Northeast side of the upper garden

School at Moray House opens 13 Sept. 1848; Moray House has extensive renovations

1846

South Bridge is complete; First stone of Edinburgh Old College is laid

1766

Survey shows severe dilapidation of Old Town

1793

1788

City population is at 57,220

Dr. Candlish buys the property on behalf of the Free Church of Scotland

Kenneth McLeary painted the house

City population is at 138,235

Edinburgh City Improvement Act recieves Royal assent and initiates the rebuilding of Old Town

EDINBURGH

SURVEY DRAWINGS NORTH ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

Chimney missing c. 1860s

Chimney missing after 1839 Shown filled c. 1829, possibly smaller

Never documented as a door Missing dormers c. 1860s

Shown as filled opening until 1899

L1

L1

Does not exist after late C19 2.20

5.03

Does not exist after late C19

3.14

Does not exist after late C19

7.93

8.05

7.93

L1

7.50

Railing appears c.

1850 with window

10.30

Added c. 1860s

Never shown as window

Shown early C19

L2

Appears c. 1830

2.48

Stepped roof likely original

1.59

1.25

2.12

LO

LO

Shown until c.

1830s

0.27 0.56 Window panel

ELEVATION

CROMWELL WINDOW 1

ELEVATION

BALCONY WINDOW 1

1.09

0.86

1.31 1.44

0.97 1.12

PLAN

PLAN

3.00

3.01

Balcony room Window W1

Cromwell room Window W1

ELEVATION

CROMWELL WINDOW 2

1.54 1.62 PLAN

Cromwell room Centre Window

0.84

0.99

DOOR

3.08

0.57 0.27

3.07 0.94

This survey supports Old Moray House’s position as significant architecture by exposing a very transitional piece of the building’s history, a piece that plays a large role in its development, alongside the evolution of Edinburgh, and its social importance as an aristocratic home, business center, and school.

Using in-depth research and a full survey of the two most preserved rooms in Old Moray House, the Balcony and Cromwell rooms, we analyzed how access and circulation moved through the house as its function changed with each new tenant. By comparing archived photos and drawings, we have compiled a new set of ground and first floor plans that we believe reflect the design and function of the house from 1750-1850.

ELEVATION

BALCONY WINDOW 2

1.45 1.56 1.71 PLAN

Balcony room centre Window 2.14

Old Moray House: A Building’s Historical Significance 1750-1840 MSc. Architectural Conservation | 2022-2023 Course leader: Dr. Ruxandra-Iulia Stoica Tutors: Dr. Geoffrey Stell, Audrey Dakin, and Tom Addyman Group 4: Devinth Muthusamy, Elaheh Joveini, Kathryn Callander, MacKayla Dean, Megumu Ando, Zachary Drysdale

3.06

Shown until c.

1830s

Shown until c.1840s; only one, never both

Shown until c.

1840s

Arch pend last shown c. 1857

Does not appear in any documents

Single window last shown c. 1857

Paired window last shown c. 1857

Harling shown in some images in late 1800s

METHODOLOGY

West Elevation c. 1830 Entry door tbd

Original

Window until 1970s

Window c. early 1800s

Original

Not in early 1800s drawings, proof of level change

North Elevation

Original

0.84

LO

ELEVATION

BALCONY WINDOW 3 1.14

Our team aims to decipher how the building was adapted in design and function through 1750 - 1840, under ownership of the Cowan Family, filling an informational gap about the importance of conservative adaptation and further strengthening the house’s recognized historical and cultural significance.

We hope to produce this analysis by examining key detail points such as plans, interior elevations, doors, windows, access, and circulation. Our argument will support how the form and function of Old Moray House has evolved and created a widespread cultural and architectural influence in Old Town Edinburgh.

AIM OF STUDY ANALYSIS

-Historically represented as a courtyard, some versions depict it almost 50 feet wider than the current frontage -Spacious stair tower on the west facade likely contained the original entrance -There was a secondary staircase, or two, in or near the inside corners of the courtyard -Current entrance hall was likely the original kitchen -Windows were likely replaced, transitioning from fixed to sash and case sometime in the early 1700s -The south block or ‘new house’ likely sits in a similar position to a wing that was removed MORAY ERA

-The house transitioned from an aristocratic home to a mixed-use complex.

-Moray House were used for storage and offices.

-The East Wing was used as housing for the manager and secretary, had its own access from the courtyard.

-The South Wing(New House) was added between 1753-54, and was leased out separately.

-Also had fully independent access either through the gardens or the courtyard of the house.

-The company and the hall were likely accessed separately, one through the gate of the property and the other through the pend and courtyard.

BRITISH LINEN COMPANY ERA

-A new cornice in the Cromwell room was added in 1837 -The door in the southwest corner of the Cromwell room could also have been added, connecting Moray and New House -The spiral stair was not often used except possibly as a business entrance -East wing was called Regents house, with its own access from either the pend or the courtyard itself -With a main entrance from the courtyard and onto a grand stair, a second stair to the north likely allowed for easy access to secondary spaces and Cowan’s office COWAN ERA

FREE CHURCH ERA

-A floor was removed from the north and west wings, addressing the rising street levels -North wing attics were also removed to allow for higher ceilings in the new first floor spaces -Major changes include the addition of several windows along the north facade, a new entry door, updates to the central stair and the loss of part of the East Wing -Main access to the building was through the original gateway and new entry door, with the courtyard becoming inaccessible from the Canongate

Survey/on site observations and analysis Old Moray House: A Building’s Historical Significance 1750-1840 MSc. Architectural Conservation | 2022-2023 Course leader: Dr. Ruxandra-Iulia Stoica Tutors: Dr. Geoffrey Stell, Audrey Dakin, and Tom Addyman Group 4: Devinth Muthusamy, Elaheh Joveini, Kathryn Callander, MacKayla Dean, Megumu Ando, Zachary Drysdale

Based on research Assumed but exact details unknown